Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 292, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1918 — FREE LIBRARIES IN ITALY [ARTICLE]

FREE LIBRARIES IN ITALY

Society Which Promotes'Such Institutions Has Made a Record It May Well Be Proud Of. The federation for the promotion of free libraries in Italy has to its credit the establishment of more than 2,000 libraries since the year of Its first national convention In Rome ip 1908 up to the present. The federation Is modeled after the Society of Milan for Popular Libraies, and has as- its alms the promotion of circulating libraries of every description, and their management, and the organization of a speedy center, so that the federated libraries may buy supplies at cost. It publishes manuals, guides, catalogues, etc., for the various types of libraries; publishes a federal periodical to be distributed free; has established a service for supplies which includes subscriptions at reduced rates, and the printing of catalogues, cards, etc., at cost; has established a federal bindery, an office for technical advice on library is planning for the direct •production of books. Houses for soldiers with libraries were established in the Italian war zones by the federation in collaboration with the minister of stud.les. These ■diminutive libraries were found more effective than the system formerly in vogue of sendihg books individually to the soldiers.